Spring Cleaning Tips

Do you know Justin Case? I do and I bet you do too.

"I might need this, just in case."

"I'll save this, just in case."

I had a Grandmother who died in her late 60's. Going through her things we found a brand new, unused set of towels still in the original gift box and given to her on her wedding day. She'd never used them. They were too good to use. She would keep them, just in case. She died without ever using them. By the time we got to them, they were yellowed and stained with age so they were used for rags. Ole Justin Case won again!

Justin Case is high maintenance not worth holding on to. Everything he has needs to be stored, organized, cleaned, etc. Lost and found, then lost again. Moved when you move. He's not worth holding on to. If you have a Justin Case item, it's time to re-think keeping it. Chances are, if you haven't used it in the last couple of years, you won't need it in the next couple of years. Let's say you need ole Justin Case 10 yrs from now when you are remodeling... can't you rent one, borrow one, buy one then?

Sometimes ole Justin Case is downright trash. People who keep cardboard boxes "just in case". Or someone who keeps emptied yogurt containers "just in case". These things are really trash and have no business taking up space in your nice home.

Now, don't get me wrong. If you are moving next month and know you will definitely need those cardboard boxes, then, by all means, keep them. My mother-in-law has 6 married children with a bunch of grandchildren so she's always sending leftovers home with somebody and she needs those emptied food containers. They don't sit around for years and waste her space, she uses them quickly so it makes sense for her to keep them. That way her children/grandchildren don't have to worry about getting containers back to her. These aren't Justin Case items, but, rather, "going to be used soon" items. For me, cardboard boxes and emptied food containers would be Justin Case items and I don't keep them around. I refuse to take care of ole Justin Case and waste my time with him.

So ask yourself if you really need a Justin Case.